PORAC Institute Courses

A new perspective, POWER, helps maintain and improve the psychological characteristics of successful peace officers. Using the principles and exercises in The POWER Manual: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Police Officer Wellness, Ethics, & Resilience, attendees learn about the moral risks of policing and the transactional relationship between officer wellness and their ethical decision-making. These moral risks include moral disengagement, which results in dehumanizing members of the community, and moral injury, which results from actions and inactions that leave officers with feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and betrayal. The course guides officers to create a personal wellness plan that fosters optimal physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual health. Additionally, attendees recommit to their noble cause through exercises designed to recalibrate their moral compass. Finally, attendees learn to apply POWER to effective policing in relation to CA POST’s ten psychological job dimensions.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees have the opportunity to:

1. Describe the moral risks of policing
2. Understand the transactional relationship between wellness and ethics
3. Create a personal wellness plan
4. Develop a plan that recommits to ethical decision-making
5. Apply their POWER wellness plan to effective policing vis-à-vis ten psychological job dimensions

$175 registration fee / $300 Non-member
STC Certified

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 16-hour course is designed to strengthen your organization by identifying and understanding the roles, duties and responsibilities of association board members. Participants will learn the skills necessary to deal with the day-to-day operations of running an association, from parliamentary procedures to fiduciary duties. Additional subject matter includes defining an association, organizational models, conflict resolution, corporate responsibilities, financial management, the duty of fair representation, bylaws, and the legal and ethical responsibilities of association board members.

Who should attend?

New or current board members who have not attended or need updated training, anyone interested in becoming a board member or who would like to become more knowledgeable in the subject matter.

$250 registration fee / $375 Non-member
STC Certified

Two-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 4-hour course presented by two experienced PORAC LDF Panel Attorneys – Alison Berry Wilkinson and David L. Kruckenberg – will discuss California Senate Bill 2 and the type of conduct that the POST Peace Officer Standards Accountability Division will likely find to demonstrate bias that is inconsistent with peace officer duties.  The course will not only provide guidance on what officers can do now to avoid decertification for bias, but also insight into how labor organizations can use the meet-and-confer process to protect their members.  With recruitment and retention an increasingly dire issue for law enforcement—officers, agencies, and labor organizations can ill-afford the consequences of self-inflicted wounds that could cause capable and seasoned officers to be removed from the profession.  Education and training are the best methods to ensure you and your membership are operating within the POST guidelines.  

Who should attend?

Law Enforcement

$85 registration fee
STC/POST Certification Pending

Four-hour Class, 8 A.M. - 12 P.M.

Political Action

The 8-hour block on Political action will look at the value and future of political action and political action committees (PACs) as they pertain to the law enforcement community. Participants will learn the value of establishing a PAC and receive an overview of the current rules governing campaign and PAC expenditures. Learn how to author a bill and how a bill becomes law. Also covered will be an overview of the legislative process, current legislation affecting law enforcement, how to interpret proposed language, campaign strategies, and your legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

PAC Management

The 8-hour block on PAC Management will begin with a review of the state campaign laws contained in the Political Reform Act of 1974 and the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Participants will work from the PORAC Political Action Committee (PAC) Guide, which will provide required information and documents necessary to establish and maintain a PAC, including definitions of legal terms, commonly asked questions and answers, record-keeping requirements, state and county filing addresses for campaign reports, tax rules, sample completed state and county filing addresses for campaign reports, sample completed federal tax forms and sample completed state campaign reporting forms.

Who should attend?

PAC members, association board members or anyone involved in the decision to establish a PAC or gain more knowledge about the political environment and process.

$250 registration fee / $375 Non-member

Two-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This class will familiarize students with the nuances of the CPRA and recent legislation expanding the disclosure of police records.  Students will gain guidance regarding timelines for disclosure under the CPRA, exceptions to the production requirements, and disclosure requirements of high profile and controversial categories of peace officer investigations and personnel records. The class will offer strategic insights regarding how to limit the adverse impacts of recent legislation expanding the disclosure of personnel records.

Who should attend?

Anyone who handles or are in charge of processing public records.

$175 registration fee / $300 Non-member

One-day class, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This 8-hour course presented by PORAC LDF Panel Attorney Brandi Harper of Harper and McCoy will guide you through the do’s/don’ts of social media postings, including deleting posts and what’s protected, how involved your association should be in social media, what you should be posting, and what your members should know about their personal posts.

Who should attend?

Any First Responder who uses social media.

$175 registration fee

One-day class, 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Presented by Ferrone Law Group & John Ferrone

The training session from the Ferrone Law Group will outline critical strategies for Police Officers entering the worker’s compensation system. The training will also provide important updates on the work comp process, the Presumptions, Return to Work- Light Duty/Fitness for Duty, 4850/TTD benefits, the delays and solutions in getting medical treatment, The Carve-Out process, 3rd party civil litigation cases, and significant changes on PERS-IDR claims.

Half-Day Course, 8 AM - 12 PM